While Melania Trump is facing online backlash over her Republican National Convention speech, no one on her husband Donald‘s campaign staff will be reprimanded, CNN reports.
The speech was undeniably similar to Michelle Obama‘s 2008 Democratic National Convention address. Melania initially said that she wrote the speech herself, but Donald’s campaign reneged on the assertion after fallout, saying in a statement that she had a “team of writers.”
“In writing her beautiful speech, Melania’s team of writers took notes on her life’s inspirations, and in some instances included fragments that reflected her own thinking,” the statement read. “Melania’s immigrant experience and love for America shone through in her speech, which made it such a success.”
No one on the “team of writers” will be fired or face disciplinary action from the campaign, CNN said. CNN reported that Trump’s campaign wants to move on without further discussing the speech.
Further, Donald’s campaign chairman Paul Manafort called claims that Melania, 46, plagiarized the speech “absurd.”
“To think that she would do something like that knowing how scrutinized her speech was going to be last night is just really absurd,” he said. “There’s no cribbing of Michelle Obama’s speech. These were common words and values.”
Donald, 70, also supported his wife’s speech on social media, writing that “Her speech and demeanor were absolutely incredible.”
CNN reported that Melania worked with a speechwriter for five to six weeks to perfect her address.
